Southeastern Looks to Continue Improvement in 2009

HAMMOND - With a roster featuring experienced returning letterwinners and talented newcomers, the Southeastern Louisiana volleyball team reports to campus on Friday to begin preparations for the 2009 season.

The Lady Lions posted their best season in five years a season ago. Southeastern returns five starters from a year ago and fourth-year head coach Julie Langford is excited about the prospects for the 2009 season, as the Lady Lions eye a return to the Southland Conference Tournament.

"We feel good about the returners we have on the roster and we expect to be solid at every position," Langford commented. "Our returning players worked extremely hard in the offseason and we're excited to see that effort pay off. Our goal is to return to the Southland Conference Tournament and get a taste of the postseason."

Seniors Lauren Mayer and Jessica Srajer are the top returning attackers for the Lady Lions. Srajer, who hails from Vancouver, Wash., averaged 2.56 kills per set in 2008. Mayer, a Metarie native, posted a 2.36 kill per set average, while also ranking 10th in the Southland Conference in service aces per set. Newcomers Taylor Buckner (Columbus, Ga.) and Kaprice Glover (Brighton, Colo.) are expected to help provide the Lady Lions with a more potent offensive attack.

"We believe we will have much more power on offense this season," Langford said. "The outside hitters we are bringing in will give us a stronger left side and more flexibility to do some different things on the right side."

Southeastern will return two proven setters in junior Katie Collins and sophomore Arianne Cruckshank. Collins, a Phoenix, Ariz. native, averaged 7.83 assists per set a season ago, while Guernville, Calif. product Cruckshank recorded 7.03 assists per set.

"We feel very confident in both Katie and Arianne at setter," Langford claimed. "They both were solid performers for us last season and have worked extremely hard in the offseason."

At middle blocker, junior Julie Elliott and sophomore Paige Dollison are the top returners. A Katy, Texas native, Elliott was second on the team with 0.70 blocks per set, followed closely by Valley, Neb. product Dollison's 0.63 block average. Six-foot-plus freshmen Alexis Branghini (Champaign, Ill.) and Courtney Donald (Tomball, Texas) are expected to have an immediate positive impact at the position.

"We have two solid returners at middle blocker and we are adding two student-athletes that will give us needed size," Langford stated. "That size will help in the middle and we expect our defense at the net to be much improved."

Southeastern also features a pair of talented student-athletes at libero in senior Margaret Pittman and junior Alex Greer. Greer, a Valrico, Fla. native, led the team with 2.83 digs per set last season. Pittman, who hails from Slidell, averaged 2.10 digs per set as a junior after ranking 24th in the nation in service aces as a sophomore.

"We have a lot of confidence in Alex and Margaret," Langford said. "Their play is pivotal to our passing and backcourt defensive production."

Southeastern will open the 2009 season at the Flo Hyman Invitational in Houston, Texas, which runs Aug. 28 and 29 and will see the Lady Lions take on top 100 programs Baylor, Indiana and Houston. The Lady Lions open their home schedule on Sept. 1, hosting Alcorn State at 7 p.m. Other non-conference opponents include Texas Tech, Bowling Green and Chattanooga, while Southeastern will also square off against in-state foes UNO, Southern and Grambling.

"This is definitely our most difficult non-conference schedule since I've been here," Langford said. "We're excited to be competing against better completion and we feel we will be better prepared for Southland play."

Southeastern's conference schedule opens with a trip to Nicholls State on Sept. 25. McNeese State will visit on Oct. 8 to open the Lady Lion home league schedule. All Southeastern home matches will be played in the University Center and admission is free.